The Dredge

“In short, you’ll realise that you never get bored with THE DREDGE. Their references to a variety of styles are more of a compliment than a sign of a lack of direction. In fact, after just one listen, you realise that they’re unique and endearing. Not only should you add this album to your collection, but you should also pick up ‘Torches’, their 2024 album. Long live diversity!”

“From the very first seconds of ‘Blink’, the listener is plunged into a unique world where conventions seem to have been left by the wayside. Whilst many bands seek to fit into a tradition or replicate a tried-and-tested formula, The Dredge prefers to follow its instincts and give free rein to its creativity. This approach gives rise to a deeply organic album, capable of shifting from almost pop-like atmospheres to more jazzy passages, without ever losing its coherence. The compositions flow one after another like a series of colourful paintings, forming a rich and captivating musical mosaic.”

“Following a very promising debut album, the band from Bergen, Norway, has moved away from the raw rock of their early days toward a more complex and eclectic approach that could almost be described as fusion. The compositions continue to benefit from Kjetil Vikene’s detached yet deep and charismatic vocals, which are now enriched by a jazz-influenced instrumental style. The saxophone parts, in particular, bring a melancholic groove to the compositions, which remain somewhat offbeat and rarely immediately accessible. We particularly appreciate the lush ‘Nature’ and the impressive ‘Event,’ built on a series of very successful crescendos.”

“To my ears, this album is much more immediately appealing, full of energy, clever riffs, and unexpected rhythms, where Torches was more moody and subtle. Throughout, Vikene’s strong vocals are front and center, and he’s up to the challenge of being the focus. Saxophone maestro Kjetil Møster gets in a few notable appearances as well. The Dredge doesn’t fit within the progressive rock genre particularly well, though the odd meters make it at least prog-adjacent, and the imaginative arrangements fit comfortably with other musically sophisticated bands prog and otherwise. I might summarize my initial reaction to The Dredge’s debut as, ‘Well, that was pretty good,’ but from the first listen of Down the Beach, it was, ‘Oh, yes, I need to listen to this again!’”

“‘Animal’ […] demonstrates even more clearly just how keen the Norwegians are to experiment: whilst it starts off with a thoroughly pleasing rock sound, with a slight nod to THE STROKES, we suddenly find ourselves in the middle section with a thoroughly wild saxophone solo that definitively highlights their love of jazz and very deliberately breaks with familiar listening conventions. ‘Nature’ then goes one step further, presenting itself not only rhythmically as a laid-back bar-jazz number, but also taking it up a notch lyrically when Kjetil lists the sometimes bewildering contradictions that are not in his nature. […] ‘Down The Beach’ remains an interesting listen for anyone who enjoys alternative rock with an open mind, as this second album already hints at the potential that lies dormant within THE DREDGE.”

“[…] following the thread of their previous work while still making space to create something new. They recently released a full-length album titled Down the Beach via Apollon Records. Tracks like lead single ‘Animal’ hone in on their unique sound of post-rock-meets-trip-hop, with a clear current of jazz running through it. The Dredge have referred to their genre as ‘groovy melancholia,’ and we are inclined to agree after hearing Down the Beach in its entirety.”

“The band draws inspiration from a wide range of genres, including touches of drum and bass and lounge jazz, a bit of art rock, and a few pinches of progressive rock. A patchwork that transports us to a variety of worlds, where the quality of the melodies is paramount. Without ever becoming overly complex, ‘Down The Beach’ glides seamlessly between rhythmic passages, acoustic sections and almost cinematic climaxes; this is its true masterstroke: it is both peaceful and urgent. […] Another triumph for The Dredge!”

“Boundaries, categorizations, and conventional thinking are luckily irrelevant to these chaps. […] musically speaking, it feels much more challenging and unpredictable in the positive sense of those words, and the creative evolution that is reflected throughout the album almost reads like a statement of intent at times. Their most radiant work yet.”

“I can't remember hearing anything that sounds exactly like The Dredge; this is raw and groovy melancholy that makes me long for both desolate mountains and packed club shows all at once. More of this!”

“Torches is undoubtedly an expertly written record that contains a multitude of interesting flavors, textures, and surprises. Very cool and most definitely worthwhile.”

“The drama, intense moments and sophisticated songwriting are more than impressive. The guitars maltreat themselves from post-rock to fuzz and shoegaze — goosebump-inducing moments provide a pleasant tingling sensation.”

“The Dredge draw from a wealth of influences across these unpredictable and exciting 8 tracks — every moment here is precise, memorable and will be enjoyed on repeated visits.”

“This fusion of styles throughout the album works perfectly. The Dredge's Torches is a solid album, well worth the effort.”

“Just the way I like it! I pity the journalists that will have to 'explain' this to potential audiences — I look forward to seeing them squirm and fail, comparing it to any other band.”

“Torches excels both in electrifying ballads carried by Kjetil Vikene’s detached vocals and in particularly biting and catchy tracks. A debut album that marks a very promising start, much like the track ‘Whales,’ a true gem reminiscent of QOTSA’s best songs and one that proves deeply addictive to listen to.”

“their debut Torches is a strong modern post-progressive rock adventure, with an alternative rock touch as well here and there. […] The sound is massive, and the performance is of a very high level, while the songs are quite strong and also very melodic.”